Following Hamas’ release of two American prisoners, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that his forces would “fight until victory” in Gaza, indicating that there would be no break in their bombing of the territory and an impending invasion.
The Americans Judith Tai Raanan, 59, and her daughter Natalie, 17, who were abducted during Hamas’ October 7 raid on southern Israel, were freed on Friday by the Islamist organisation that controls Gaza.
The two ladies were shown holding hands with Israel’s coordinator for the missing and prisoners, Gal Hirsch, and surrounded by three Israeli troops.
The teenager’s father, Uri Raanan, claimed he spoke with his daughter over the phone in Bannockburn, Illinois, which is outside of Chicago. “She sounds very, very good, very happy – and she looks good.”
Since Hamas terrorists stormed into Israel and massacred 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapped almost 200 more, they were the first hostages verified by both sides in the conflict to be released.
“Two of our abductees are at home. We are not giving up on the effort to return all abducted and missing people. “At the same time, we’ll continue to fight until victory,” Netanyahu stated.
The armed wing of Hamas spokesperson, Abu Ubaida, stated that the captives were freed partly “for humanitarian reasons” in response to attempts by Qatar to mediate a solution.
Israel is preparing a land assault on Gaza, therefore they have gathered tanks and men nearby. At least 4,137 Palestinians, including hundreds of children, have died as a result of its shelling of Gaza, and more than a million have been homeless, according to Palestinian officials.
According to Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, accomplishing Israel’s goals would not be simple or quick. “We will topple the Hamas organisation. We will destroy its military and governing infrastructure. It’s a phase that will not be easy. It will have a price,” Gallant said at a parliamentary committee.
He said that although the next phase would take longer, the goal was to create “a completely different security situation” in which Israel would not be under danger from Gaza. “It’s not a day, it’s not a week, and unfortunately it’s not a month,” he stated.
At least 19 people were murdered in an Israeli hit on a house in Jabalia, northern Gaza, according to Palestinian media, which also reported significant Israeli bombing in the area overnight.
The primary Christian denomination in Palestine, the Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, declared that hundreds of Christians and Muslims had taken sanctuary in the Church of Saint Porphyrius in Gaza City when it was attacked by Israeli soldiers.
All residents of the northern half of the Gaza Strip, which includes Gaza City, have already been ordered to leave by Israel. Since the southern districts are also under siege, many residents have not left yet, claiming they fear losing everything and have nowhere safe to go.
When asked if Israel has responded in accordance with the rules of war thus far, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reaffirmed on Friday that Israel was entitled to self-defense and to ensure that Hamas, which is supported by Iran, was prevented from launching assaults.
“It’s important that operations be conducted in accordance with international law, humanitarian law, the law of war. There will be plenty of time to make assessments about how these operations were conducted but I can just say from the part of the United States, this continues to be important to us,” he said.
Approximately one-third of Gaza’s total number of homes, or over 140,000, have been damaged, with almost 13,000 of them entirely destroyed, according to the UN humanitarian affairs office.
The Rafah border into Egypt, the only entry point to Gaza that is not under Israeli control, has drawn attention from across the world.
After arriving in Israel on Wednesday, Biden expressed confidence that relief trucks will pass through in the next 24 to 48 hours.
After visiting the border on Egypt’s side on Friday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres demanded that checks, which Israel insists on in order to prevent supplies from reaching Hamas, be expeditious and practical. He also urged for a significant number of trucks to enter Gaza each day.
Up until now, Western officials have mostly backed Israel’s fight against Hamas, despite growing concern about the fate of Gaza’s residents. Nonetheless, a number of Muslim nations have demanded an immediate cessation of hostilities, and on Friday, demonstrations calling for this goal were staged in many Islamic capitals.
During skirmishes near Jericho, an Israeli kid was shot dead by Israeli soldiers in the occupied West Bank, where unrest has erupted since Israel started bombarding Gaza.
